Method for dry cleaning with binary vapor

ABSTRACT

This invention is a method for dry cleaning with binary vapor in which articles such as fabrics and the like are subjected to tumbling in a basket or chamber while heated air is circulated through said chamber. While being tumbled, the articles are exposed to a binary vapor consisting of water and solvent under pressure which loosens or removes debris and soils from the articles. The debris and soils are carried by the air and binary vapor to a filter where the soils and debris are captured with the binary vapor continuing on to a condenser where the binary vapor is converted to binary liquid. Upon conclusion of the cycle the articles are removed from the chamber.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application is related to application Ser. No. 10/053,851filed Oct. 25, 2001 of which I am a co-inventor, and is related to and adivisional application of my application Ser. No. 10/074,467, filed Oct.25, 2001, now ______.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

This invention is in the general field of cleaning methods andapparatus.

The invention is more particularly in the field of dry cleaning offabrics, clothing, draperies, bedding and the like.

The invention is most particularly, but not exclusively, directed to thefield of a dry cleaning business model algorithm utilizing, among otherthings, unique algorithm steps involving what I refer to as BinaryVapor.

II. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art pertaining to vapor dry cleaning is best disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,741,367; 5,716,456; 5,773,403; 5,503,681; 5,702,535;5,945,016; 5,865,198; 5,834,416; 5,824,632; 5,492,647; 5,501,811;5,224,495; 5,940,988.

I have examined all of the listed patents and many others as well. I amvery familiar with operating dry cleaning facilities, literature andcommercial bulletins, and available dry cleaning machinery andequipment.

None of the above listed patents and nothing else I could find disclosedor anticipated what I eventually conceived and developed, and which isdisclosed in this patent application. Thus I believe it is accurate tosay there is no prior art as to my Binary Vapor Dry Cleaning BusinessModel Algorithm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In various jurisdictions there are many laws related to the use ofvarious dry cleaning solvents. These laws are in a state of flux and newrestrictions are being imposed frequently. The new laws and regulationsin the dry cleaning industry make it very important to develop newtechniques and equipment in order to utilize new classes of solvents fordry cleaning.

The most widely used solvents for dry cleaning have beenperchloroethylene (commonly known as, and referred to herein as “perc”and petroleum based solvents, herein “pet”).

There are primarily two basic dry cleaning systems known as “open” and“closed” systems.

The open systems utilize solvent vapor, ultrasonic solvent cleaning, andsolvent dipping and spraying systems. The open systems contaminate theenvironment and are costly since much solvent cannot be recovered forreuse. Additionally the open systems can cause explosions and fires.

Closed dry cleaning systems attempt to address some of the problems ofopen systems. They maintain an airtight seal in the cleaning chamberwhile the solvent is being used. Perc and pet solvents are widely usedin closed systems, particularly for cleaning clothing and the like.

A major problem in dry cleaning with solvents is the production ofhazardous waste. The liquid waste must be picked up at the dry cleaningfacility by licensed hazard waste disposal companies. This is costly.Not only solvent waste, but also water waste must be handled in thismanner.

Dry cleaning establishments are highly regulated, especially inmulti-tenant buildings. They are required to meet strict rules of theNational Fire Protection Association, EPA, DEP, OSHA, Department ofHealth, and Fire Departments. Inspections are made regularly, and theinspectors may order a dry cleaner to close on finding a failure to meetthe strict regulations. Additionally, each dry cleaner must maintainextensive records of operational procedures and must make weekly selfinspections. There are numerous other problems such as complaints fromneighbors, refusal of landlords to lease preferred locations, refusal torenew leases because of complains, and the like.

Currently, in closed systems the procedure is generally that a cleaningoperator will spot clean (applying special chemicals to particularstains on articles), load the article into a dry cleaning machine, andactivate the cleaning process.

Typically the cleaning process consists of loading a basket (aperforated drum or the like) with the articles to be cleaned; fillingthe machine with solvent, constantly pumping the solvent into the basketand filtering the solvent frequently while the articles being cleanedare tumbled in the basket; centrifuging the articles in the cleaningbasket to remove the bulk of the solvent which is pumped away.Thereafter the articles in the basket are tumbled in circulating heatedair which vaporizes and removes the remaining solvent and any water andsoil waste. The solvent is then distilled and reclaimed.

Some articles cannot be cleaned by solvents and they are “wet cleaned”which is essentially using water and special soaps in an ordinarywashing machine and drying in a customary dryer. Only a portion of thearticles received by a dry cleaner can be wet cleaned because of variousproblems such as shrinkage, color bleeding, wrinkling and the like.Also, wet cleaning is very time consuming and labor intensive.

Articles cleaned by the existing methods are saturated by the solvent orwater and are agitated to remove the soils. This results in adverselyaffecting the integrity of fabrics and the like.

I have studied dry cleaning and dry cleaning machinery, dry cleaningmethods, and dry cleaning solvents for a long period of time. I have nowdeveloped a complete business model algorithm utilizing certain non-percor pet solvents, equipment, and techniques which do not have theproblems associated with perc and pet solvents but which have not beenpractical with existing dry cleaning procedures. My algorithm is basedon a novel, unique, and useful use of water/solvent binary vaporcleaning which can be performed in conventional dry cleaning apparatusor a recovery dryer using environmentally safe solvents withflash-points over 100° F.

It is an object of this invention to provide a business model algorithmfor dry cleaning of a variety of articles made from fabrics, leathers,furs, and the like utilizing novel, unique, and useful water/solventbinary vapor as the cleaning agent;

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for dry cleaningarticles using circulating water/solvent vapors to “lift” and transferdebris and soil from the articles to a filter;

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for adaptingexisting dry cleaning machinery to operate within all building andsafety code requirements according to my new algorithm;

Another object of this invention is to generate a water/solvent binaryvapor under controlled variable temperature and ratio;

Another object of this invention is to provide an algorithm for drycleaning which reduces the time required to dry clean articles;

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for dry cleaningfabrics in a manner which reduces the damage to the fabrics which hasoccurred in the dry cleaning processes heretofore known;

Another object of this invention is to provide a closed loop binaryvapor system of dry cleaning with filtration of removed debris and soilsand recovery of the binary vapors;

Another object of this invention is to treat articles being dry cleanedwith a compatible binary vapor detergent and/or finishing chemicalduring cleaning;

Another object of this invention is to treat articles being dry cleanedwith a semi-dry detergent foam to enhance debris and soil removal;

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for separatingthe two components of a binary vapor for recovery as independentsubstances.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the descriptionof preferred embodiments, which follows, in conjunction with a review ofthe appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of steps of a complete Method for dry cleaningwith Binary Vapor.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An inventory of items bearing reference numerals on the drawings is:Numeral Item 10 binary liquid 11 water 12 solvent 13 binary vapor 14articles 15 basket 16 in-line condenser

Most solvents will exhibit some degree of uniform activity with water.For use in my new dry cleaning business many solvents can be usedsuccessfully. The mixture of water and solvent and its vaporization canbe easily accomplished either by vaporizing the mixture or by vaporizingthe components and mixing the vapors, such as by metering the two vaporsin appropriate quantities into an injection nozzle or the like as willbe understood by those skilled in the art.

Preferred solvents include dimethyl silicone fluids, glycol ethers, andalcoholic esters. The dimethyl silicones (organosilicones) are eitherstraight-chain or cyclic. Lower molecular weight straight-chainorganosilicones may show little miscibility with water, their cycliccounter parts (cyclic siloxanes-octamethyltetracyclosiloxane {tetramer},decamethylpentacyclosiloxane {pentamer}, anddodecamethylhexacyclosiloxane {heximer}) do exhibit variable binaryratios with water. The importance of the binary vapor is that it remainsconsistent over a temperature range from 210° F. (where it is generated)down to 130° F. (where it is applied).

The tetramer produces a binary vapor which is 33% water and 67% tetramerat 205° F. The pentamer produces a binary vapor which is 60% water and40% pentamer at 208° F. The heximer produces a binary vapor which is 85%water and 15% heximer at 210° F. These ratios are variable by changingtemperatures at which they are generated. All of these have flashpointsabove 200° F. which is very important because of equipment/solvent fireregulations.

It is important that the binary vapor separate into its components afterit is condensed into a liquid so that the solvent not remain misciblewith the water.

The cyclic siloxane binary vapor mixtures have the unique, novel anduseful feature of being able to wet both water and oil based stains andsoils. Fatty acids generated by the human body attach to the to thesurface of clothing as well as water-based stains. In the processesheretofore known the clothing fibers are immersed in the solvent and/orwater and mechanically agitated to attempt to remove the wet fatty acidsand water soils from the fibers. The fiber which was originally dyed ina similar process may now lose color in the described cleaning process.

In my new process, the binary vapor only wets the surface of the fabricfiber and the soils to be removed. The injection of the binary vaporsinto the tumbling articles in a conventional dry cleaning machine causesthe agitation necessary to remove the soils from the article. Theremoved debris and the like is then carried by the circulating airstream to, and captured by, a filter through which the vapors pass. Thevapors then enter a condenser where they are returned to liquid. Laterthe liquid will once again be vaporized. The de-vapored air circulatesto a heating means and is then re-introduced into the basket where thearticles are tumbling. The entire cycle can be completed in theremarkably short time of five to twenty minutes.

My new method of cleaning is superior for all articles and isparticularly valuable for dense materials such as leather wheregenerally only surface cleaning is required.

The straightforward basic operation of my algorithm is: binary liquid 10is prepared by mixing water 11 and solvent 12. The binary liquid 10 isvaporized in a manner described below. And is now binary vapor 13. Insome cases the water and solvent will be vaporized before being mixed.Next, the articles being cleaned are aerated 14 in a cleaning basket 15or the like. The binary vapor is injected under pressure into thearticles being tumbled in the cleaning basket. The binary vapor carryingdebris and soils (debris and soils are defined as any material which hasstained or otherwise affected the surfaces or body of the articles beingdry cleaned) passes to a filter where the debris and soils are removed.The binary vapor minus the debris and soils passes to a condenser 16where the binary vapor is returned to binary liquid.

The binary vapor for my new dry cleaning process can easily be generatedin many conventional dry cleaning machines. Many such conventionalmachines have an atmospheric still which is used to purify the solvent.These existing stills generate temperatures approaching 230° F. which ismore than sufficient to generate the solvent/water binary vapor under212° F. Introducing air pressure into the still provides the means toprovide pressurized vapor which is than carried to the cleaning basketwhere it can be introduced to the articles being cleaned continuously orin pulses. This will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Another way to produce the solvent/water binary vapor is by using lowpressure saturated steam. In this method, the solvent is maintained at aconstant level in a heating vessel. Steam from an outside source entersthe vessel at a controlled rate, thus a binary vapor is generated whichis directed under pressure to the cleaning basket by means known tothose skilled in the art.

Still another way in which the pressurized binary vapor can be generatedis by using a conventional steam cleaning apparatus. The solvent/waterliquid is introduced into the heating chamber of the steam cleaningapparatus at a suitable pressure (for example 200 psi) which will allowfor an exit nozzle pressure within 10% of the entry pressure.

Another important aspect of this invention is that a detergent foam canbe introduced into the basket after the articles begin to tumble. Thiswill provide surface wetting/activation of soils on the fibers whichallows the soils to be easily blown off by the binary vapor, or even bysteam or pressurized air or other fluids.

If the atmospheric air in a heating chamber where binary vapor isgenerated is replaced by an inert fluid such as nitrogen or carbondioxide I have found a remarkable increase in the effectiveness ofremoval of various spots on articles being dry cleaned.

The binary vapors can be used to carry various finishing chemicals tothe surfaces of articles being cleaned. Sizing, softeners, bleaches,deodorizers and the like can be advantageously applied in this manner.

In all manners in which the binary vapor may be generated, thepressurized vapor can be introduced into the cleaning basketcontinuously or in pulses, as will be clear to those skilled in the art.

In the claims which follow if I should fail to claim a patentablefeature such failure to claim will be due to inadvertence or oversightand is not to be interpreted as an intent to dedicate or abandon suchfeature.

While the embodiments of my inventions shown and described are fullycapable of achieving the objects and advantages desired, suchembodiments have been shown for purposes of illustration only and notfor purposes of limitation.

1. A dry cleaning method comprising the steps of: placing articles to bedry cleaned in a cleaning chamber; agitating the articles in thechamber; formulating a binary vapor comprised of vaporized water andsolvent; pressurizing said binary vapor; introducing said binary vaporunder pressure into said chamber and onto said articles while beingagitated; transporting said binary vapor with debris and soils which mayhave been removed from the articles by exposure to the binary vapor outof the cleaning chamber; and removing said articles from said chamber.2. The method of claim 1 wherein debris and soils which may have beenremoved from the articles are filtered from the binary vapor and thebinary vapor is recovered for reuse.
 3. A dry cleaning method comprisingthe steps of: placing articles to be dry cleaned in a cleaning chamber;agitating the articles in the chamber; circulating a gaseous fluidincluding a binary vapor containing vaporized water and vaporizedsolvent into said chamber and articles; circulating said gaseous fluidwith any debris and soils which may have been removed from said articlesout of said chamber; and removing said articles from said chamber.